STROKE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Published by Jordyn Sims, MS, CCC-SLP
May is Stroke Awareness Month, and so we wanted to summarize a few key facts about stroke in one convenient spot! Read on and spread the word – everyone should know stroke warning signs, the life-altering effects of stroke, and what kind of treatment stroke survivors can do to regain control of their lives!

What is a stroke?
• An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks a vessel in the brain, which prevents blood supply to any areas of the brain supplied by that vessel.
• A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, is when a vessel ruptures. Oddly enough, blood is poisonous to the brain, so if any parts of the brain are exposed to blood during a hemorrhage, those parts of the brain will be damaged.
What causes a stroke and how can I avoid it?
• There are MANY causes of stroke!
o Many disorders, such as AVM, Moyamoya, and cardiovascular disease (just to name a few) can cause strokes.
o Lifestyle risks include being overweight and inactive, overuse of alcohol, and use of illicit drugs.
o Other medical risks include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep apnea.
What are the warning signs of stroke? Check out these warning signs from the Mayo Clinic. If you experience any of these warning signs, contact a medical professional immediately – it’s ALWAYS better safe than sorry! The faster you get treatment the BETTER.
• Trouble talking or understanding language
• Paralysis or numbness, especially if it’s only on one side
• Trouble with vision
• Headache
• Trouble walking
What happens after a stroke?
• This is different for everyone. You may have trouble with one, some, or all of the following:
o Language (speaking and/or understanding; written and/or spoken)
o Memory
o Attention
o Movement
o Sensation
o Swallowing
o Emotion
o Behavior
o Judgment
How can stroke survivors regain control of their lives after a stroke, and gain back skills for daily living?
• Therapy has been proven to help recovery. There are many available apps that individuals can use at home in addition to in-clinic therapy. Check out Constant Therapy‘s collection of science-based tasks and see which tasks might be best for you. Our app will recommend a set of tasks for you based on your specific areas of difficulty and can then move you along in your tasks over time – if a task is too easy, we’ll give you a harder one; if one is too tricky, we’ll go a little easier. Download Constant Therapy today to get started on your recovery.